Cllr Fleur de
Rhé-Philipe, Cabinet member for
Economic Development and Strategic Planning presented a report on
the Aggregate Minerals Site Allocations Development Plan Document
(DPD). She presented the DPD for Council’s consideration and approval
taking into account consultation responses for the purpose of
submission to the Secretary of State for Examination as recommended
by Cabinet at its meeting on 19 June 2012.

Cllr de Rhé-Philipe explained the background and
history into how the DPD had evolved
and the previous deliberations by Cabinet during the plan
preparation process.

Council was assured
that the DPD was considered sound and
based on robust and proportionate evidence gathering and
consultation. A schedule of the main issues which arose from the
consultation exercise was presented, although these were not
considered to be significant new issues. The report outlined the
general concerns and issues which had been raised.

Cllr de Rhé-Philipe explained that in light of
comments and advice received during consultation, some minor
modifications were proposed which if approved, would be submitted
to the Secretary of State along with the DPD. Such modifications were in the interests of
clarity, consistency, updating in light of changes to the planning
system and the National Planning Policy Framework, minor text
changes and additional wording within some site profile tables to
reflect concerns raised by consultees
on a number of areas.

Council’s
endorsement of the DPD would confirm
that Council considered the DPD to be
sound and that it should be submitted to the Secretary of State for
Independent Examination. It was noted that Swindon Borough
Council’s Cabinet endorsed the DPD for onward recommendation to its full Council
meeting on 19 July 2012.

During debate, Cllr
Colmer explained that 80% of the sites proposed in the DPD were within his Division. He expressed concern
that proposals in the DPD would
exacerbate the volume of HGV
traffic in the affected areas. He therefore, asked Cllr Tonge,
Cabinet member for Highways and Transport to commission a study in
advance of any planning application being submitted to ensure a
plan was in place rather than being put in the position of reacting
to any application.

Cllr Tonge undertook to look into this but
made the point that it would be dependent on receiving S.106
funds.

Cllr de Rhé-Philipemoved the recommendations and
this was seconded by Cllr John Noeken. Cllr de Rhé-Philipe expressed
her gratitude to officers for all their hard work in bringing the
DPD to this stage.

On being put to the vote, it was

Resolved:

That
Council:

1)approves the Submission draft Aggregate Minerals Site
Allocations Development Plan Document (DPD) and proposed modifications set out at Appendix
3 and the Equalities Impact Assessment at Appendix 4 of the report
submitted, for the purpose of submission to the Secretary of State
and

2)delegates to the Director for Economy and Regeneration,
in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Economic Development
and Strategic Planning and the Chairman of the Environment Select
Committee, authorisation to propose ...
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